Train Talks Derail After Quarter Hour

Talks between Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz and Chairman Ofir Eini of the Histadrut Labor Federation on the strike at Israel Railways broke off after a quarter hour, Thursday afternoon, after Katz told reporters beforehand that he had instructed management to outsource maintenance of the railroad's rolling stock by the end of the month without negotiating the matter with the union or the railroad's workers' committee..

Katz repeated the announcement during the meeting. Eini repeated his opposition to the move. He also said he would not accept what he called an ultimatum by Katz. In Eini's words, "The minister created a crisis and I won't negotiate under these conditions."